The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) Project has entered the phase of beam commissioning starting from the room-temperature front end and the superconducting linac segment of first 15 cryomodules. With the newly commissioned helium refrigeration system supplying 4.5[Formula: see text]K liquid helium to the quarter-wave resonators and solenoids, the FRIB accelerator team achieved the sectional key performance parameters as designed ahead of schedule accelerating heavy ion beams above 20[Formula: see text]MeV/u energy. Thus, FRIB accelerator becomes world’s highest-energy heavy ion linear accelerator. We also validated machine protection and personnel protection systems that will be crucial to the next phase of commissioning. FRIB is on track towards a national user facility at the power frontier with a beam power two orders of magnitude higher than operating heavy-ion facilities. This paper summarizes the status of accelerator design, technology development, construction, commissioning as well as path to operations and upgrades.

The Michigan State University (MSU) Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) accelerator utilizes six types of cryo-modules that are being installed in three Linac segments in the FRIB tunnel. The cryomodules contain both superconducting RF cavities and solenoid magnets with 2 K and 4.5 K refrigeration loads (respectively), magnet lead flow loads and 35-55 K shield loads and power coupler intercept loads. The first Linac segment (LS-1) with fifteen cryomodules was commissioned at 4.5 K and at 2 K. Commissioning experiences and some salient features of the cryogenic design of the cryomodules and the helium distribution systems will be discussed.

Abstract. The Michigan State University Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (MSU-FRIB) helium distribution system has been revised to include bayonet/warm valve type disconnects between each cryomodule and the transfer line distribution system, similar to the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) and the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) cryogenic distribution systems. The heat loads at various temperature levels and some of the features in the design of the distribution system are outlined. The present status, the plans for fabrication, and the procurement approach for the helium distribution system are also included.

The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) is a new nuclear science facility funded by the DOE Office of Science and Michigan State University (MSU). FRIB is currently under design and will be located on the MSU campus. The centerpiece of FRIB is a heavy ion linac utilizing superconducting RF cavities and magnets which in turn requires a large cryogenic system. The cryogenic system consists of a commercially produced helium refrigeration plant and an extensive distribution system. Superconducting components will operate at both 4.5 K and 2 K. This paper describes the conceptual design of the system including the expected heat loads and operating modes. The strategy for procuring a custom turnkey helium refrigeration plant from industry, an overview of the distribution system, the interface of the cryogenic system to the conventional facilities and the project schedule are also described.

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